There is something intrinsically captivating about the down and out character who is on the edge of falling into a pit of either a drug-induced terror, an abusive past or a variety of other demons. The demise of these characters is perhaps what is so intriguing. The juxtaposition of these worlds, which are more often than not being identifiable to our own by not being far removed from the everyday, whilst also having that edge, which is different to what co-exists ...

The Army of Worn Soles launch blog tour continues! Read to the end for the clue that will help you win the Grand Prize of a signed paperback copy of Army of Worn Soles plus a $50 Amazon gift card. If you collect all the clues and put them in the right order, they’ll make a sentence. Send the sentence to the author for a chance to win and autographed paperback copy of Army of Worn Soles plus a gift certificate from Amazon.

For a chance to enter the early-bird draw, enter the clue at the b...

Tell us about your latest book.

My Latest book, Return to Finndragon's Den, was released last year and is the second and final book in the Tales of Finndragon fantasy series. The story began with The Legend of Finndragon's Curse which revolves around two sisters and a brother, Emma, Megan and Scott Davies, (based upon my own children) whose father has mysteriously disappeared. They live in a Welsh valley town called Crafanc y Ddraig.

For centuries, the inhabitants of Crafanc y Ddraig have...

Red Bride's Noose by Alexandra Swistak

Camille Hayer should be preparing for a job interview—not ordered to pack her bags for  a cousin’s wedding in rural Orissa. India is the last place on earth she would go to willingly; it’s where her sister disappeared thirteen years ago.
 
On arrival, Camille’s bag is brutally snatched and her family is more concerned about catching a train. No ticket, no passport, and adapting to third world conditions is the least of her worries when a bod...

Oscar Wilde has attained worldwide critical acclaim as one of the most proficient, insightful and exceedingly witty authors of his generation. He is celebrated globally for his literary prowess and remains one of the most widely read and translated authors in the English language. Therefore, what better way to demonstrate Wilde's literary greatness than through his own words? Listed below are some of Wilde's most memorable quotes; seeped in his famous wit and formidable intellectual insight...

The Mazda MX-5 has been held with high esteem since its release, revered by many as one of the world's most accomplished lightweight sports cars. Here are five books which offer exclusive insight into the MX-5's conception, as well as information on how to maintain repair and customize any model of this outstanding roadster.

1. Mazda MX5 1.6 Workshop Manual (Enthusiast's Workshop Manual Series) by Rod Grainger

This book is perfect for any MX-5 enthusiasts who want to learn more about t...

Message from author, Rebecca Scarberry:

I want to thank all of you for voting for the cover you like the best. Steve Caresser, with @ePrintedBooks read your comments and listened. He has revised book cover #2 in ebook and paperback. I hope you all like them and will read this book to your young children or grandchildren one day.

We are excited to announce that our novel ZEKE is now available in audiobook, narrated by talented actor, Michael Hanson. We hope you enjoy it!

Click here to purchase

The next best thing to driving or shopping for a luxury car is to turn through the lush photographic pages of a glossy coffee table book on luxury cars (when it’s not playing eye candy, that is) and feast on some auto erotica.

Here’s a line-up of the top five books on luxury cars that any auto or style nut must have, in no particular order.

1. Exotic Cars (First Gear) by John Lamm

This is not a coffee table book since the 256 pages are compiled into a handy paperback that makes for...

What the reviewers are saying:

“I thoroughly enjoyed the author's style and he definitely does not pull any punches...”

“This story is well written and fast paced and I devoured it...”

“...hang on for a horrific and brilliant ride filled with twists and turns”

It seems authors often get asked the same questions from one interview to the next. Not always, but a lot. It was time, I decided, for a new approach. So, this interview is designed to break out of the mold. On each of these questions, there is simply no right answer. Let’s see just how creative these creative minds are! It’s all in fun, of course. Today, please welcome author, Duncan Whitehead. He soldiers through the ludicrous questions with remarkabl...

It seems authors often get asked the same questions from one interview to the next. Not always, but a lot. It was time, I decided, for a new approach. So, this interview is designed to break out of the mold. On each of these questions, there is simply no right answer. Let’s see just how creative these creative minds are! It’s all in fun, of course. -Karen

In this interview, I have subjected talented author RJ Palmer to a ludicrous but penetrating interrogation. Here are her answers: ...

It seems authors often get asked the same questions from one interview to the next. Not always, but a lot. It was time, I decided, for a new approach. So, this interview is designed to break out of the mold. On each of these questions, there is simply no right answer. Let’s see just how creative these creative minds are! It’s all in fun, of course. -K

Today we welcome RS Guthrie, who provides very candid responses to our questions.

1. Grace, Dinetta, and Rhona went to a bar on the ...

It seems authors often get asked the same questions from one interview to the next. Not always, but a lot. It was time, I decided, for a new approach. So, this interview is designed to break out of the mold. On each of these questions, there is simply no right answer. Let’s see just how creative these creative minds are! It’s all in fun, of course. -Karen

Please welcome author, Renata F. Barcelos.

1. Where were you that night, and why?

Oh, I wish I cou...

It seems authors often get asked the same questions from one interview to the next. Not always, but a lot. It was time, I decided, for a new approach. So, this interview is designed to break out of the mold. On each of these questions, there is simply no right answer. Let’s see just how creative these creative minds are! It’s all in fun, of course. ~Karen

In this interview, I have subjected my co-author, PJ Hawkinson, to ludicrous but penetrating int...

It seems authors often get asked the same questions from one interview to the next. Not always, but a lot. It was time, I decided, for a new approach. So, this interview is designed to break out of the mold. On each of these questions, there is simply no right answer. Let’s see just how creative these creative minds are! It’s all in fun, of course. Our first victim...I mean, volunteer, is Tiffany Fulton. She tackles these ludicrous questions with style and spirit! -Karen

Tiffany Fulton, ...

Book Giveaway!

We are honored to be hosting a giveaway of 10 paperback copies of the fine novel, Across the Mekong River by Elaine Russell. Winners will be chosen by random drawing and each will receive a paperback copy of the book via postal service delivery. All you have to do is send an email asking to be entered to the PR company handling the contest at:  contest@juliadrakepr.com

I still have my favorite traditionally published authors, the ones with famous names and recognized publishers. But lately, I have been devoting my reading time mainly to indie authors, those of the self-published or small press variety. And here’s why:

1. Accessibility. Indie authors are usually very friendly and happy to exchange messages online with readers and fans. If you are an author as well as a fan, they are some of the most generous and supportive people you will ever meet, oft...

Image from MS Free Images

They say there are no new ideas. But perhaps you’ve come up with a different twist on an old idea, or decided to give your characters certain traits, developed a unique plot, or even snagged a common saying to incorporate into your book. You work long and hard on your project, get ready to release it, and BOOM. There is your idea, or saying, or trait already out there in a book, movie, TV show, etc. Somebody beat you to it. Now, if you publish your work as it stands...

Finally, Zeke is here!

Zeke is a dark novel of obsession. Naive college student, Sue Cox, is ill-prepared for the  persuasive ways  of an experienced man like Zeke. She falls hard and fast for his stunning looks, sensual touch, and psychological manipulation. Before summer's end, he convinces her to go on the road with him.

Once Zeke has Sue isolated from friends and family, his behavior grows more deviant and increasingly volatile.

Sue's parents refuse to...

Do you prefer your crime fiction dark or light?

If you favor cozy mysteries, then your choice will be a lighter strain of crime fiction featuring puzzle-solving amateur sleuths with an interesting hobby or pastime, set in a quiet, charming community in which murders take place off-stage, away from the public eye. Murder She Wrote, the 1980s television series starring Angela Lansbury, always comes to mind as the quintessential cozy mystery.

However,...

Oh, behave! I’m not being nearly as scandalous as the title of this guest post would suggest. The “F” word to which I’m referring is “Fact,” and its use in fiction can be just as challenging, just as brow-raising, as the dirty word you likely thought I meant.

My fiction has been described as “psychological and thoughtful” by Midwest Book Review, my characters as “flawed and believable, yet familiar” by Publishers Weekly. One book review blogger recently wrote: “Martin...

 The science fiction stories of Michael K. Rose can most accurately be described as eclectic. He is best known for his science fiction adventure series Sullivan’s War and in this collection you will find stories that adhere to the strongest expectations of the genre, such as “Sergeant Riley’s Account,” “Sleep” and “A Random Selection.”

But you will also find stories that, while speculative in nature, owe more to literary fiction than anything else. Works such as “Main &...

Cora Lee, Author

 Historical Romance author Grace Burrowes did a blog post a couple of months ago called The Twelve Minute Solution, in which she talked about how counterproductive large goals can be for some people.  It was a post that really resonated with me, and I had to restrain myself when I commented, because every other book, article, and post about writing tells you to set goals—aim high!—and stick to them.

But I’ve never been very good a...

A Guest Post by Scott Bury

Genres have definite rules. Some make sense: Gothic horror tales need a haunted house, and that house has to be big and dark with lots of scary-looking places for horrors to hide in and spring out at you. Romances have to have beautiful protagonists, because let’s face it, no one wants to fall madly in love with an ugly person. Science fiction has to be based on real science or the fans get mad, fast. Sure, there has to be some...

Image from Microsoft Free Images

Each writer probably has his or her own personal pet peeves or elements that stand out in a manuscript like literary speed bumps. For many authors (Stephen King comes to mind), adverbs are problematic and amateurish. Others are snagged by exaggerated verbs that project from a good story like the needles on a cactus. For instance: “I hate taxes,” he groused as opposed to “I hate taxes,” he said. (I actually prefer the more colorful verbs, but that’s ...

When asked by Karen to do another guest blog on overcoming the hurts sustained in my own experience with an abusive childhood, my response was, "I guess I never thought about it." The human spirit is truly amazing. It has the ability to triumph, not even realizing it is, in fact, triumphant.

My novel, The Boots My Mother Gave Me (An Amazon Breakthrough Novel Quarter Finalist) is a Dysfiction inspired by a true story, about a young girl coming o...

The upcoming novel by Wodke Hawkinson

Dear Readers,

For those of you who have been (im)patiently waiting for our next novel, the waiting time is nearing an end. We actually started the novel (???) before we wrote Betrayed, Betrayed Alternate-Ending, and Blue, but we were taking it in a different direction than where it is going today. Let me explain why this novel is taking us so very long to finish.

You see, there’s something about our main character that tends to make us want to ignore...

Gabino Iglesias of the Austin Post said, “Vigilare walks the line between a thriller and a supernatural adventure while safely anchored in a scientific discourse around blood that James put together so well that it's reminisce...

I’m going to tell you something I don’t often repeat. 

I love nightmares. 

Oh, a dream about swimming in a lagoon by a tropical island has its place, but rarely do those dreams stay with me. Like an orgasm, the moment is wonderful, yet fleeting. 

All my life, I’ve had nightmares. I’m sure you’ve had your share, too. The difference with me is, at a very young age, I made peace with those nighttime visions of terror. As soon as I learned to embrace them, to dissect the patterns of...

We are fortunate to once again welcome talented author Toby Neal to our blog as a guest writer. Toby's book, Blood Orchids, is free April 28 and 29 on Amazon Kindle. Be sure and grab a copy of this fast-paced suspense. Now, we turn over the "podium" to Toby.

Toby Neal, Author

Ten Things I've Learned About Life by Toby Neal

·        Niceness: it DOES matter. What kind of world would this be if we all gave into our nasty, jealous, greedy, murderous, slanderous impulses? So, when in doubt be N...

I may have unknowingly created a new literary genre. But don’t take my word for it. Read on and let me know if you think that is the case.

It all started when I saw a picture of a “sun zebra.” Unfortunately I can’t tell you what a “sun zebra” is without spoiling the title story of my book. Then, after I saw this animal, a little girl named Nell wandered out of my mind and went to tell her dad she had found a “zebra.” Since the story takes place in a farm in the middle of Pen...

by Brooklyn James (Author of The Boots My Mother Gave Me, An Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter Finalist)

I enjoyed reading Robert French’s guest blog about depression and its correlation to writing. His blog got me thinking about my own relationship with writing.

The completion of my first novel, The Boots My Mother Gave Me, was a New Year’s resolution. I had no intentions of completing a book. The coming of age Dysfiction is about a young girl overcoming an abusive childhood. Growin...

All authors know that marketing and promotion are major parts of the overall success of our work. Building an Author Platform That Can Launch Anything: a Social Media Minibook by Toby Neal is an invaluable addition to any author's toolkit for book promotion.

Effective steps to building an author platform that can take advantage of free programs and launch any book into visibility and better sales.

Self published or not, today’s authors have to develop their own “platform” for reaching bo...

Robert French

When Karen invited me to do this guest post, I was really pleased because I had a great subject in mind but as I was writing away, I got an overwhelming desire to embark upon an entirely different subject, one that is a little more personal and a lot more painful.

If one reads the biographies of writers through the ages, a common theme is that many writers, especially those who may deal with darker subjects, are victims of depression. According to health.com writers are #5 in ...

We are celebrating readers in April! Where would authors be without them? The entire month of April, we are accepting entries for our giveaway. One entry per person please. Winners will be chosen by random drawing.

First prize is a Kindle Touch.

Second prize is a set of our short story volumes: Catch Her in the Rye, Blue, and Alone. Winner can choose between e-copies or signed paperback copies.

Third prize is the two-volume set of Betrayed and Betrayed Alternate Ending. Again, ...

by Kirkus MacGowan

Kirkus:  Kirkus MacGowan here. I’m at an undisclosed location with John Reeves. He agreed to answer a few questions for the fans of The Fall of Billy Hitchings. Keep in mind, he’s a secretive individual. My goal is to give the reader some insight into just who John Reeves is. There may be questions he can’t answer, especially those relating to his involvement in Secret Ops.

Kirkus:  I’l...

Guest post by Mimi Barbour

My Cheeky Angel
(1st book in the Angels with Attitudes series)
by Mimi Barbour

 
Michael K. Rose, Author

Do you see alien landscapes in your dreams?

Dreams, no. Daydreams, you bet! I've done a fair bit of reading on what alien worlds would look like. Did you know that for different types of stars (blue stars, red stars, etc.) plant life, if it draws energy from the sun, would most likely be colors other than green? It has to do with the wavelengths of light those plants would absorb. Now, for the purposes of my science fictional universe, which I call the Myriad Sph...

First, before I begin, I would like to thank the duo authors known as Wodke Hawkinson for giving me the opportunity to write on their blog, and for their support.

I was given the honor to write this article in regards to my new book The Four Letters of Love soon to be released on Amazon, strategically before Valentine's Day.

Why poetry and love? I asked myself the question.

As a poet, I have been recently aske...

Guest Post by Author, Scott Bury

Thanks to PJ and Karen for inviting me to write about my editing process. This is what works for me, and it has also worked for hundreds of students I taught it to when I was a college English professor.

My editing process

What’s the most erroneous myth about writers? The scene in TV shows and movies, where the writer types an opening sentence and immediately rips the page out of the typewriter, crumples it in rage and throwing it into an overflowing waste-bask...

A woman comes home after shopping, puts her toddler down for a nap, and then stretches out on the bed for a short rest. She wakes up to find a strange man in her bedroom, staring at her….

Then my muse gets up and walks out. “Hey!” I call. “Where are you going? Get back here, right now!”

“Nope.” He lifts his chin and looks away. “I’m done here.”

“But we’re at a critical part of the book.�...

By K. Wodke

 Every survivor of rape experiences the trauma in her (or his) own unique way. Some common after-effects include fear, anger, guilt, shame, loss of trust, anxiety, insomnia, and even denial. Because of the element of shame associated with rape, many victims are reluctant to report the crime and /or seek the help they need.

Like child molestation, rape is an abhorrent and aberrant behavior, one that people are expected to realize is wrong without being told. They are exp...